SUP Bristol
SUP Bristol is a UK-based outdoor activity provider offering paddleboarding and kayaking experiences, courses, and adventure trips on Bristol Floating Harbour and surrounding waterways, serving tourists, local residents, corporate teams, schools, and group celebrations since 2014.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersBristol, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What SUP Bristol does
SUP Bristol Ltd is a UK-based outdoor activity provider founded in 2014 by Tim Trew and Kate Ingham, operating paddleboarding and sit-on-top kayaking experiences on Bristol Floating Harbour and surrounding waterways. The core product is a 1.5-hour harbour taster session for beginners, priced via public online booking, with all equipment, instruction, and safety briefing included. The portfolio extends to full-day skill courses (Introduction to Paddleboarding at £120, Introduction to Coastal Paddleboarding at £100), regional adventure trips at £85 per person (Aqueduct Adventure near Bath, Kayak the Dart in Devon, SUP the Jurassic Coast, and SUP the Avon Gorge), and seasonal events such as Solstice sunrise paddles and Bristol Harbour Festival discounted sessions. A tiered membership program on the TeamUp platform adds recurring revenue through pay-as-you-go (£16/session), 5- and 10-session passes, and a monthly subscription at £40.
The business operates primarily direct-to-consumer via its own booking platform at mendip.me and the SUP Bristol website, with an enquiry-based sales motion for larger private groups (11+ people), including corporate team-building, stag and hen parties, and schools and youth groups. Distribution is supplemented by Move GB integration and a gift voucher channel. The single operational base is at Cottage Inn Landing on Bristol Harbour, with capacity of up to 8 participants per public session and 1:8 instructor ratios. Compliance is anchored by AALA licensing and £5 million of public and product liability insurance. In 2025, SUP Bristol joined the Mendip Adventure family of outdoor activity brands, positioning itself within a multi-brand operator network that includes Mendip Activity Centre, YHA Cheddar, and related businesses.
SUP Bristol firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SUP Bristol
- Legal name
- SUP Bristol Ltd
- Website
- https://supbristol.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- SUP Bristol is a UK-based outdoor activity provider offering paddleboarding and kayaking experiences, courses, and adventure trips on Bristol Floating Harbour and surrounding waterways, serving tourists, local residents, corporate teams, schools, and group celebrations since 2014.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where SUP Bristol is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bristol
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
SUP Bristol business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Public Session Bookings: Individual and small group bookings for paddleboarding and kayaking taster sessions on Bristol Harbour. Customers book online for sessions of 1.5 hours. Revenue is collected upfront at time of booking.
- Training Courses: One-day instructional courses including Introduction to Paddleboarding (£120) and Introduction to Coastal Paddleboarding (£100). These provide comprehensive skills training for independent paddling.
- Adventure Trips: Full-day guided trips including Aqueduct Adventure, Kayak the Dart, SUP the Avon Gorge, and SUP the Jurassic Coast. All priced at £85 per person.
- Membership Subscriptions: Flexible membership with pay-as-you-go (£16/session), 5-session pass (£70), 10-session pass (£130), and monthly subscription (£40/month). Includes premium equipment hire, changing facilities, and fast check-in.
- Corporate and Group Bookings: Bespoke corporate team-building sessions and group events (stag/hen parties, birthdays, school groups). 20% deposit required for group bookings with final balance due 28 days before event.
- Gift Vouchers: Gift vouchers sold for paddleboarding experiences. Activity vouchers have single use; value vouchers can be applied across multiple transactions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Pay as you go membership - £16 per session with no commitment |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | 5 Session Pass - £70 (12 month expiry) |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | 10 Session Pass - £130 (12 month expiry) - Best value |
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly Pass - £40/month with 3 month commitment |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Introduction to Paddleboarding Course - £120 per person |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Introduction to Coastal Paddleboarding Course - £100 per person |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Aqueduct Adventure - £85 per person |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Kayak the Dart - £85 per person |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | SUP the Avon Gorge - £85 per person |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | SUP the Jurassic Coast - £85 per person |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Harbour Festival Special - £15 per person |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Solstice SUP - £25 per person |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Balloon Fiesta SUP Yoga - £45 per person |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
SUP Bristol product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SUP Bristol provides guided stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) and sit-on-top kayaking sessions, skill-building courses, full-day adventure trips, and bespoke group events on Bristol Floating Harbour and surrounding waterways in Southwest England. All equipment, instruction, and safety briefings are included, with sessions available for complete beginners through independent paddlers. The business sells per-person taster sessions, structured courses, full-day guided trips, a tiered membership program, and corporate/school/stag-hen group packages.
Product overview
SUP Bristol operates as an outdoor activity provider offering water sports experiences primarily centered around Bristol Floating Harbour. The core portfolio consists of stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) and sit-on-top kayaking sessions at various levels (introductory taster sessions, skill-building courses, and multi-day trips). The product lineup includes harbor-based taster adventures for beginners, formal instruction courses (Introduction to Paddleboarding, Introduction to Coastal Paddleboarding), and extended adventure trips to regional destinations (Aqueduct Adventure near Bath, Kayak the Dart in Devon, SUP the Jurassic Coast, SUP the Avon Gorge). Seasonal events include Solstice Sunrise paddles, Bristol Harbour Festival sessions, and Balloon Fiesta SUP Yoga. The company also offers group packages for corporate team-building, stag/hen parties, and school/youth groups, plus a membership program with guided and unguided sessions for regular paddlers. SUP Bristol joined the Mendip Adventure family of brands in 2025, integrating with their booking systems.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bristol Harbour SUP Adventure (Harbour Paddleboarding) Stand-up paddleboarding sessions on Bristol Floating Harbour, suitable for beginners with no prior experience. Sessions include expert instruction, equipment hire, and safety briefing, and are sold as 1.5-hour per-person bookings.
- Bristol Harbour Kayak Adventure (Harbour Kayaking) Sit-on-top kayaking sessions on Bristol Floating Harbour, providing a stable and accessible water experience suitable for all skill levels including beginners.
- Introduction to Paddleboarding Course (SUP Fundamentals) Full-day practical course (10:00–16:00) teaching foundational paddleboarding skills, safety, rescue techniques, and harbour navigation for adults and young people aged 14+ who want to paddle confidently and independently.
- Introduction to Coastal Paddleboarding Course One-day course at Broadsands Beach, South Devon, building on flat water skills to develop coastal paddleboarding confidence. Covers sea handling, journey planning, weather/tides, and safety rescue fundamentals.
- Aqueduct Adventure (Paddle the Bath Aqueduct) Full-day guided paddlesports journey along the Kennet and Avon Canal near Bath, paddling over two historic aqueducts. Available for paddleboarders and kayakers.
- Kayak the River Dart Full-day guided kayaking adventure on the sheltered River Dart estuary in Devon, paddling from Totnes to Dittisham with tide assistance. No prior experience required.
- SUP the Jurassic Coast Full-day guided paddleboarding journey along the Jurassic Coast in Dorset and East Devon, exploring coves, beaches, and white cliffs from the water. Adults 18+ with basic paddleboarding experience required.
- SUP the Avon Gorge Full-day paddleboarding adventure paddling directly beneath Clifton Suspension Bridge, traveling from Shirehampton towards Bristol Harbour with the tide. Adults 18+ with basic paddleboarding experience required.
- Bristol Balloon Fiesta SUP Yoga Special Combined SUP and yoga experience during Bristol Balloon Fiesta weekend, suitable for beginners with an introduction to paddleboarding and yoga practice on the water.
- Solstice SUP (Summer Solstice Paddleboarding) Early morning sunrise paddleboarding session on the longest day of the year, offering a unique experience of Bristol Harbour at dawn, with optional SUP yoga elements.
- Harbour Festival Kayak or Paddleboard Experience Discounted 1-hour taster sessions during Bristol Harbour Festival, offering affordable access to paddleboarding and kayaking for beginners and families.
- SUP Bristol Membership Program Flexible membership scheme with pay-as-you-go (£16/session) and discounted subscription options (5-session pass £70, 10-session pass £130, monthly pass £40/month with 3-month commitment) for regular paddlers. Includes guided and unguided session access, premium equipment hire, changing facilities, and fast check-in.
- Corporate Team Days Out Bespoke corporate paddleboarding and kayaking team-building sessions on Bristol Harbour, tailored to client objectives with games, challenges, and leadership activities available for groups of 11+.
- Stag Do Activities Paddleboarding and kayaking sessions for stag parties, offering competitive games, relaxed paddles, or fancy dress options with all abilities welcome.
- Hen Do Activities Paddleboarding and kayaking sessions for hen parties, offering social and inclusive experiences with games, challenges, or relaxed paddling options for groups with mixed confidence and ability levels.
- School & Youth Group Sessions Paddleboarding and kayaking sessions for schools and youth groups, designed for building confidence, water-sports skills, and personal achievement with full AALA accreditation and school-ready risk assessments.
Quantifiable outcome
- Rated Bristol's #1 Outdoor Activity on Tripadvisor
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use SUP Bristol
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
SUP Bristol technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature3 records
SUP Bristol partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Mendip AdventureflagshipIn 2025, SUP Bristol joined the Mendip Adventure family of outdoor activity brands. Mendip Adventure is a forward-thinking company dedicated to inspiring everyone to make time for adventure. This partnership supports SUP Bristol's growth and enables more people to access paddleboarding experiences. SUP Bristol maintains its brand identity while benefiting from Mendip's resources, shared values of connection, inclusivity, and community-building.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
SUP Bristol competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Airbnb Experiences: Airbnb-hosted marketplace for bookable local experiences. Indirectly comparable distribution channel for tourist bookings; SUP Bristol's Bristol-sightseeing positioning aligns with Airbnb Experiences' local-activity framing for travellers.
- Viator: Tripadvisor-owned tours and activities marketplace. Indirectly comparable as a tour-booking platform serving the same leisure traveller that SUP Bristol targets — particularly visitors discovering Bristol through Tripadvisor's #1 Outdoor Activity ranking.
- Get Your Guide: Global online marketplace for tours, attractions, and experiences. Not a direct competitor but a potential distribution channel for SUP Bristol to capture inbound tourist bookings; comparable in serving the same leisure-experience customer.
Direct peers
- Mendip Activity Centre: Sister brand within the Mendip Adventure family of outdoor activity brands. Offers paddlesports, climbing, caving, and other outdoor activities in Somerset — directly comparable water sports product line and customer base, and shares booking/marketing infrastructure with SUP Bristol following the 2025 partnership.
- Bear Grylls Adventure: Birmingham-based adventure centre offering kayaking, paddleboarding, climbing, and other instructor-led activities. Directly comparable UK adventure-experience business targeting tourists, corporate groups, and schools with multi-activity packages.
- Lee Valley White Water Centre: London-based white-water and paddlesports centre hosting instructor-led kayaking, paddleboarding, and rafting sessions for consumers, schools, and corporate groups. Directly comparable UK operator with similar target segments and B2B group-booking motion.
- Adventure Parc Snowdonia: Welsh adventure activity centre (formerly National White Water Centre) delivering white-water rafting, paddling, and instructor-led water-sports experiences. Comparable business model serving leisure, corporate, and educational customers with a similar activity-led experience proposition.
- Plas Menai National Outdoor Centre: UK national outdoor centre in Snowdonia offering kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing, and water-sports instruction. Directly comparable instructor-led water-sports product portfolio and target customer base (tourists, schools, corporate groups).
Broad incumbents
- Go Ape: UK's largest outdoor activity brand operating treetop adventure, segway, and other experiences across 30+ sites. Larger and broader incumbent in the UK adventure-activity market; comparable target customer (tourists, corporate, families) and B2B group-booking motion, though focused on land-based activities.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
SUP Bristol social profiles
Digital presenceSUP Bristol compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
SUP Bristol financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SUP Bristol leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
SUP Bristol funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SUP Bristol M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SUP Bristol
What does SUP Bristol do?
SUP Bristol provides guided stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) and sit-on-top kayaking sessions, skill-building courses, full-day adventure trips, and bespoke group events on Bristol Floating Harbour and surrounding waterways in Southwest England. All equipment, instruction, and safety briefings are included, with sessions available for complete beginners through independent paddlers. The business sells per-person taster sessions, structured courses, full-day guided trips, a tiered membership program, and corporate/school/stag-hen group packages.
Is SUP Bristol a public or private company?
SUP Bristol is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was SUP Bristol founded?
SUP Bristol was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is SUP Bristol based?
SUP Bristol is headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does SUP Bristol make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Public Session Bookings are the primary driver. The others are training Courses, adventure Trips, membership Subscriptions, corporate and Group Bookings and gift Vouchers.
Who are SUP Bristol's main competitors?
Others on record are Airbnb Experiences, Viator and Get Your Guide. Direct peers are Mendip Activity Centre, Bear Grylls Adventure, Lee Valley White Water Centre, Adventure Parc Snowdonia and Plas Menai National Outdoor Centre. Go Ape is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does SUP Bristol have an API?
No public API is recorded for SUP Bristol.